KUMJ | VOL. 13 | NO. 1 | ISSUE 49 | JAN-MAR, 2015
Evaluation of Etiology of Epistaxis and its Management in Dhulikhel Hospital
Shrestha I, Pokharel M, Shrestha BL, Dhakal A, Amatya RCM
Abstract: Background
Epistaxis is one of the most common and most difficult emergencies presenting in
7-14% of the general population each year. Although its lifetime incidence is about
60%, only 6% require formal medical intervention but they can be serious and even
life threatening.
Objective
The main objectives are to study different etiology, types, modality of treatment
of epistaxis. Specific objective is also to find out if the modality of treatment is
associated with age, site, amount of bleeding and etiology.
Method
It is a prospective, cross sectional, longitudinal, analytical study done in Department
of ENT, Dhulikhel hospital, Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences (KUSMS)
from Aug. 2010 to Aug. 2013. Data was collected. This study was cleared through
institutional review committee of hospital. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS
16.0.
Result
487 patients were studied during the period. There was significant association
between age group with type of treatment (p value 0.002); and with admission (p
value < 0.001). Significance in the study was also shown in the correlation between
site of bleeding and the type of treatment and also with alcohol intake with site of
bleeding (p value < 0.001).However there was no significance between hypertension
and the type of treatment methods chosen (p value >0.01).
Conclusion
Management of epistaxis is challenging. Most are managed by non surgical means
whereas some by surgical treatment. Non surgical treatment is still useful, safe and
cost effective. Type of treatment and need for hospital stay is related to age and site
of bleeding.
Keyword : Age group, epistaxis, modality of treatment, site of bleeding